This is the first snow I have seen in my phenology spot, and at this point winter is almost in full tilt. with most of the leaves gone its mostly trunks and twigs over a bed of snow.
The only remaining leaves are stragglers on Northern red oak and shagbark elm. almost all the underbrush is bare, leaf breakdown and decomposition has started underneath the snow.
the tracks around my phenology spot were mostly dog and human but I spotted these two fat squirrels eating up in a tree together. the bird activity has decreased significantly, and I didn’t see other scat or tracks in the area.
My favorite Part of my Phenology place this semester has been getting outside with the direct purpose of observing and noticing small details. It feels different going outside to learn rather than going outside, being disconnected from your surroundings or sense of place.